Gilmore Girls

I’ve seen various writers post things they’re proud of this year, so I decided to do the same. This year I started to pitch pieces to other websites, which was scary, but I’m glad I did it. My experience working with editors has been positive, and I’m looking forward to doing more of it next year. This list of pieces is things I’ve written for the blog and other websites, roughly in chronological order.

I was lucky enough to see the first two episodes of Gilmore Girls, and I wrote a review! I’m quoting an excerpt here, and then you have to click on the link to read the rest of it. There are no major plot details in the review, because I’d like to be able to keep getting screeners from Netflix.

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life follows Rory, Lorelai and her mother Emily (Kelly Bishop) over four seasons, beginning at Winter and ending in Fall. Written and directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino and her husband Daniel Palladino, A Year in the Life successfully recreates the tone of the original series. Fans will be happy to see their favourite characters, especially Lorelai’s sometimes love interest Luke (Scott Patterson) and Rory’s frenemy Paris Geller (Liza Weil). Also returning are Stars Hollow residents, including Lane and Sookie, Taylor, Kirk, Miss Patty, Babette and Paul Anka. Absent from the miniseries is Lorelai’s father Richard, following the death of actor Edward Herrmann in 2014. The first episode is a heartfelt tribute to the actor, with a moving funeral scene that briefly brings Lorelai and Emily closer together.

I woke up this morning to two press releases from Netflix in my inbox. I can’t remember what the first one was, because I saw that the second was a list of release dates (I went for a long walk after breakfast and it turns out that Netflix sent out another three press releases in the hour), and hoped Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life was one of the shows with a premiere date. It is! We have a trailer and the knowledge that we’re going back to Stars Hollow on November 25. Before I discuss Netflix’s brilliantly chosen premiere date, watch the trailer and marvel at Lauren Graham’s brilliance.

The first thing I did upon reading the press release was get on Twitter to one half of Teaves and my friend Regan. She sent me a link to the trailer. I then realised that the reason that all these announcements were being made today/yesterday is that it Netflix had the opening day spot at the Summer Television Critics’ Association Press Tour. For more information on what that is, Alan Sepinwall has a great explanation, and Linda Holmes gives an example of what a typical panel is like. Basically, Netflix has the control of the entertainment media cycle for a whole day, and they made the most of it.

Netflix has almost doubled its output of original series this year, so it seems like every weekend is a new release. The new Gilmore Girls episodes/films will be out November 25. A lot of people had predicted a November release to coincide with the publication of Lauren Graham’s book, Talking As Fast As I Can, which features stories from behind the scenes on Gilmore Girls. So people can watch Gilmore Girls and then go and buy the book, which is a great marketing strategy. Netflix knows exactly what it’s doing when it comes to releases, because November 25th is on Thanksgiving weekend. Why go out shopping (Black Friday sales) or to the movies (it’s a big weekend for winter blockbusters and films hoping to win awards), when you can stay home and watch Netflix and do all your shopping online? The people at Netflix know exactly what they’re doing, and I respect that.

Other things:

The other 8 release dates that were bundled up with Gilmore Girls:

Chef’s Table: France (September 2)

Easy (September 22) – this is set in Chicago and stars Jake Johnson, so I want to see it immediately.

The Ranch: Season 1, Part 2 (October 7)

Black Mirror (October 21) – Netflix picked up this UK sci-fi show after it was cancelled last year, the previous seasons are all available.

Lovesick formerly known as Scrotal Recall (November 17)

Beat Bugs season 2 (November 18) – more about that below, season 1 will be out next week.

Captive (December 9) – a documentary series about hostage negotiations that I will probably love.

One Day at a Time (January 6, 2017) – an reimagining of the Norman Lear sitcom focusing on a Cuban-American family starring Rita Moreno.

The press release that was sent prior to the release dates one was announcing a new Original Series called Ozark, starring Jason Bateman and Laura Linney.

The other three were about two animated series: Beat Bugs, created by Australian Josh Wakely (the show will air on the Seven Network in Australia, it premieres on Netflix in every other country on August 3), featuring songs by the Beatles. It’s just been renewed for a second season. The other show is an untitled Motown project, also directed by Josh Wakely, featuring music from The Jackson Five, the Supremes and many more, with Smokey Robinson serving as Executive Music Producer. This is a great way to introduce children to specific music, and it’s a great move.

The corpse plant that was discussed in the trailer is indeed a real thing; the one at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne was in flower last year.